Method and apparatus for supporting harq

ABSTRACT

Provided is a method for supporting retransmission in a wireless communication system by user equipment. The method may determine a transmission parameter for initial transmission of uplink data, transmit the uplink data on an uplink channel using the determined transmission parameter, and, for retransmission of the uplink data, perform multiplexing of retransmission data of the uplink data with a channel quality indicator (CQI). A radio resource for the CQI may be determined based on the transmission parameter used in an initial transmission. The method may transmit the multiplexed data on a physical uplink shared channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/025,811 filed on Feb. 3, 2008, and Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2008-0128471 filed on Dec. 17, 2008, which areincorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and moreparticularly, to a method and apparatus for supporting hybrid automaticrepeat request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system.

2. Related Art

Wireless communication systems are widely spread all over the world toprovide various types of communication services such as voice or data.In general, the wireless communication system is a multiple accesssystem capable of supporting communication with multiple users bysharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth, transmission power,etc.). Examples of the multiple access system include a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) system, a frequency division multiple access(FDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA) system, anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, a singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system, etc.

Current development in advanced wireless communication has led to therequirement of high spectral efficiency and reliable communication.Unfortunately, packet errors by fading channel environment andinterferences originated from various sources make the capacity ofoverall system to be limited.

Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is an ARQ protocol combined withforward error correction (FEC) and is strongly considered as one ofcutting edge technologies for future reliable communication. The HARQscheme can largely be classified into two types. One is HARQ-chasecombining (CC) which is disclosed in D. Chase, Code Combining: Amaximum-likelihood decoding approach for combining an arbitrary numberof noisy packets, IEEE Trans. on Commun., Vol. 33, pp. 593-607, May1985. The other is HARQ-Increment Redundancy (IR). In the HARQ-CC, whena receiver detects an error through cyclic redundancy checking (CRC)while decoding the transmitted packet, the same packet with the samemodulation and coding is retransmitted to the receiver. Meanwhile, inorder to achieve a coding gain, the HARQ-IR retransmits differentpackets, in which parity bits can be manipulated through puncturing andrepetition. To perform the HARQ, there is a need to exchangeacknowledgement (ACK)/not-acknowledgement (NACK) information thatindicates whether retransmission is necessary.

Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) is also a technology for providingreliable communication. A base station (BS) determines a modulation andcoding scheme (MCS) used for transmission by using a channel qualityindicator (CQI) received from a user equipment (UE). In general, the CQIis an index of an entity of an MCS table showing a plurality of MCSs.The UE transmits the CQI by using two methods. One is that the CQI istransmitted periodically. The other is that the CQI is transmitted atthe request of the BS.

3^(rd) generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE)is a part of an evolved-universal mobile telecommunications system(E-UMTS) using evolved-universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA), andadopts the OFDMA in downlink and the SC-FDMA in uplink. Resourceallocation of the 3GPP LTE is based on dynamic scheduling. A downlinkphysical channel of the 3GPP LTE can be divided into a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) for carrying resource allocation information anda physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for carrying downlink data.An uplink physical channel can be divided into a physical uplink controlchannel (PUCCH) for carrying uplink control information and a physicaluplink shared channel (PUSCH) for carrying uplink data. In downlinktransmission, the UE first receives a downlink grant on the PDCCH, andthen receives downlink data on the PDSCH indicated by the downlinkgrant. In uplink transmission, the UE receives an uplink grant on thePDCCH, and then transmits uplink data on the PUSCH indicated by theuplink grant. Dynamic scheduling is a method capable of effectiveresource allocation. However, the UE always has to receive thedownlink/uplink grant first to transmit and/or receive data.

A signaling overhead is a major cause of low transmission efficiency andlow frequency efficiency. In dynamic scheduling, in addition toreception of the PDCCH, the HARQ operation and the CQI transmission arecarried out by using a plurality of signaling operations such asexchange of ACK/NACK information, exchange of a transmission parameterfor the CQI, etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method capable of reducing asignaling overhead caused by CQI transmission in a process of performingHARQ.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method of multiplexing and transmittinga channel quality indicator (CQI) and retransmission data.

In an aspect, a method of supporting Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request(HARQ) in a wireless communication system is provide. The methodincludes receiving an initial uplink grant on a downlink channel,transmitting uplink data on an uplink channel using the initial uplinkgrant, receiving a request for retransmission of the uplink data,determining at least one transmission parameter of a channel qualityindicator (CQI) from the initial uplink grant, multiplexingretransmission data of the uplink data with the CQI, wherein an amountof resources for transmission of the CQI is determined based on the atleast one transmission parameter, and transmitting the multiplexed dataon the uplink channel.

In some embodiments, the method may further include receiving aretransmission uplink grant for retransmission of the uplink data,wherein the retransmission data of the uplink data is multiplexed byusing the retransmission uplink grant. A request for reporting the CQImay be included in the retransmission uplink grant.

The retransmission data of the uplink data may be multiplexed by usingthe initial uplink grant. The downlink channel may be a PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and the uplink channel may be aPhysical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).

The at least one transmission parameter of the CQI may be related to aModulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) of the CQI. The at least onetransmission parameter of the CQI may be determined so that the MCS ofthe CQI is same as the MCS of the uplink data.

In another aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided.The apparatus includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit for transmitting andreceiving a radio signal, and a processor coupled with the RF unit andconfigured to receive an initial uplink grant on a downlink channel,transmit uplink data on an uplink channel using the initial uplinkgrant, receive a request for retransmission of the uplink data,determine at least one transmission parameter of a CQI from the initialuplink grant, multiplex retransmission data of the uplink data with theCQI, wherein an amount of resources for transmission of the CQI isdetermined based on the at least one transmission parameter, andtransmit the multiplexed data on the uplink channel.

A method of transmitting retransmission data together with a channelquality indicator (CQI) in a process of performing hybrid automaticrepeat request (HARQ) is proposed. Accordingly, HARQ and adaptivemodulation and coding (AMC) operations can be accurately performed, anda signaling overhead can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system.

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a radio frame in 3^(rd) generationpartnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE).

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary structure of a downlink subframe.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of an uplink subframe in 3GPP LTE.

FIG. 5 shows uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) and channelquality indicator (CQI) transmission.

FIG. 6 shows dynamic scheduling in uplink transmission.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing multiplexing of data and controlinformation on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

FIG. 8 shows resource mapping on a PUSCH.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for wirelesscommunication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The techniques described herein can be used in various wirelesscommunication systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA),frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access(TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), etc. The CDMA canbe implemented with a radio technology such as universal terrestrialradio access (UTRA) or CDMA-2000. The TDMA can be implemented with aradio technology such as global system for mobile communications(GSM)/general packet ratio service (GPRS)/enhanced data rate for GSMevolution (EDGE). The OFDMA can be implemented with a radio technologysuch as institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), etc.The UTRA is a part of a universal mobile telecommunication system(UMTS). 3_(rd) generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution(LTE) is a part of an evolved UMTS (E-UMTS) using the E-UTRA. The 3GPPLTE uses the OFDMA in downlink and uses the SC-FDMA in uplink.

For clarity, the following description will focus on the 3GPP LTE.However, the technical features of the present invention are not limitedthereto.

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communication system 10 includes atleast one base station (BS) 11. The BSs 11 provide communicationservices to specific geographical regions (generally referred to ascells) 15 a, 15 b, and 15 c. The cell can be divided into a plurality ofregions (referred to as sectors). A user equipment (UE) 12 may be fixedor mobile, and may be referred to as another terminology, such as amobile station (MS), a user terminal (UT), a subscriber station (SS), awireless device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, ahandheld device, etc. The BS 11 is generally a fixed station thatcommunicates with the UE 12 and may be referred to as anotherterminology, such as an evolved node-B (eNB), a base transceiver system(BTS), an access point, etc.

Hereinafter, downlink (DL) denotes a communication link from the BS tothe UE, and uplink (UL) denotes a communication link from the UE to theBS. In the DL, a transmitter may be a part of the BS, and a receiver maybe a part of the UE. In the UL, the transmitter may be a part of the UE,and the receiver may be a part of the BS.

The wireless communication system can support uplink and/or downlinkhybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). In addition, a channel qualityindicator (CQI) can be used to support adaptive modulation and coding(AMC).

The CQI indicates a downlink channel state and may include a CQI indexand/or a precoding matrix index (PMI). The CQI index indicates eachentity of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table including aplurality of entities configured by combining coding rates andmodulation schemes. The PMI is an index of a precoding matrix based on acodebook. The CQI may indicate a channel state for a full band and/or achannel state for some bands included in the full band.

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a radio frame in 3GPP LTE. The radio frameincludes 10 subframes. One subframe includes two slots. A time fortransmitting one subframe is defined as a transmission time interval(TTI). For example, one subframe may have a length of 1 millisecond(ms), and one slot may have a length of 0.5 ms. One slot includes aplurality of SC-FDMA symbols (e.g., 7 SC-FDMA symbols) in a time domainand a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) in a frequency domain. In the3GPP LTE using the SC-FDMA symbol in uplink, the SC-FDMA symbolrepresents one symbol period. According to a system, the SC-FDMA symbolcan also be referred to as an OFDMA symbol or a symbol period. The RB isa resource allocation unit, and includes a plurality of contiguoussubcarriers in one slot.

The structure of the radio frame is shown for exemplary purposes only.Thus, the number of subframes included in the radio frame or the numberof slots included in the subframe or the number of SC-FDMA symbolsincluded in the slot may be modified in various manners.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary structure of a downlink subframe. The subframeincludes two consecutive slots. A maximum of three OFDM symbols locatedin a front portion of a 1^(st) slot within the downlink subframecorrespond to a control region to be assigned with a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH). The remaining OFDM symbols correspond to a dataregion to be assigned with a physical downlink shared chancel (PDSCH). Aphysical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is transmitted on a1st OFDM symbol of the subframe and carries information regarding thenumber of OFDM symbols used for transmission of PDCCHs in the subframe.

The PDCCH carries a downlink grant that reports resource allocation ofdownlink transmission on the PDSCH. More specifically, the PDCCH cancarry a transmission format and resource allocation of a downlink sharedchannel (DL-SCH), paging information on a paging channel (PCH), systeminformation on the DL-SCH, resource allocation of a high-level controlmessage such as a random access response transmitted on the PDSCH, atransmit power control command, activation of a voice over Internetprotocol (VoIP), etc. Further, the PDCCH can carry an uplink grant thatreports resource allocation of uplink transmission to the UE. The PCFICHreports to the UE the number of OFDM symbols used for the PDCCHs, and istransmitted in every subframe. A physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel(PHICH) is a response of uplink transmission and carries an HARQacknowledgment (ACK)/not-acknowledgment (NACK) signal.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of an uplink subframe in 3GPP LTE.

Referring to FIG. 4, the uplink subframe can be divided in a frequencydomain into a control region and a data region. The control region isallocated with a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for carryinguplink control information. The data region is allocated with a physicaluplink shared channel (PUSCH) for carrying user data. To maintain asingle carrier property, one UE does not simultaneously transmit thePUCCH and the PUSCH.

The PUCCH for one UE is allocated to an RB pair in a subframe. RBsbelonging to the RB pair occupy different subcarriers in respective twoslots. This is called that the RB pair allocated to the PUCCH isfrequency-hopped in a slot boundary.

FIG. 5 shows uplink HARQ and CQI transmission.

Referring to FIG. 5, upon receiving uplink data 100 on a PDSCH from aUE, a BS transmits an ACK/NACK signal 101 for the uplink data 100 on aPHICH after a specific time elapses. When the uplink data 100 isreceived, the BS may transmit the PHICH after a time corresponding to 4TTIs elapses. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Ifthe uplink data is successfully decoded, the ACK/NACK signal 101 is anACK signal. If the uplink data is unsuccessfully decoded, the ACK/NACKsignal 101 is a NACK signal. When the ACK/NACK signal 101 is determinedto be the NACK signal, retransmission data 110 for the uplink data 100is retransmitted to the BS. Retransmission may be performed until theACK signal is received or may be performed up to the number of timescorresponding to the number of retransmission attempts. When an ACK/NACKsignal 111 for the retransmission data 110 is determined to be the ACKsignal, the UE can transmit new uplink data 120 to the BS.

Resource allocation or a transmission time point of an ACK/NACK signalfor uplink/downlink data may be dynamically reported by the BS throughsignaling, or may be predetermined according to resource allocation or atransmission time point of the uplink/downlink data.

The UE can report a CQI to the BS periodically and/or non-periodicallyby measuring a downlink channel state. When the CQI is reportedperiodically, it implies that the CQI is transmitted without receivingan additional request from the BS according to a predetermined period ora period determined by the BS. When the CQI is reportednon-periodically, it implies that the CQI is transmitted in response toa request from the BS. The CQI may be transmitted on a PUCCH or a PUSCH.When the CQI is multiplexed together with data, the CQI is transmittedalways on the PUSCH. CQIs 180 and 184 are transmitted alone and may betransmitted on the PUCCH or the PUSCH. A CQI 182 is transmitted togetherwith uplink data and may be transmitted only on the PUSCH. The CQItransmitted on the PUSCH may be a periodic CQI or a non-periodic CQI.The BS may use the CQI to perform downlink scheduling.

In the following description, uplink HARQ will be described. However,the technical features of the present invention will be easily appliedto downlink HARQ by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 6 shows dynamic scheduling in uplink transmission.

Referring to FIG. 6, for uplink transmission, a UE transmits ascheduling request (SR) to a BS on a PUCCH. The SR is used when the UErequests the BS to allocate uplink radio resources. The SR is a sort ofpreliminary information exchange for data exchange. In order for the UEto transmit uplink data to the BS, radio resource allocation is firstrequested by using the SR. In response to the SR, the BS transmits anuplink grant to the UE on a PDCCH. The uplink grant includes allocationof the uplink radio resources. The UE transmits the uplink data on thePUSCH by using the allocated uplink radio resources.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing multiplexing of data and controlinformation on a PUSCH. The PUSCH carries data and/or controlinformation through an allocation resource by using an uplink grant.

Referring to FIG. 7, data bits a₀, a₁, . . . , a_(A-1) are provided foreach TTI in a format of one transport block. First, cyclic redundancycheck (CRC) parity bits p₀, p₁, . . . , P_(L-1) are attached to the databits a₀, a₁, . . . , a_(A-1) to generate CRC-attached bits b₀, b₁, . . ., b_(B-1) (step 200). Herein, B=A+L. Equation 1 below shows arelationship between a_(k) and b_(k).

b _(k) =a _(k) for k=0, 1, . . . , A−1

b _(k) =p _(k-A) for k=A, A+1, . . . , A+L−1  [Equation 1]

The CRC-attached bits b₀, b₁, . . . , b_(B-1) are segmented in a codeblock unit, and the CRC parity bits are re-attached in the code blockunit (step 210). c_(r0), c_(r1), . . . , c_(r(Kr-1)) denote a bitsequence output after the code block segmentation. Herein, if a totalnumber of code blocks is C, r denotes a code block number, and Krdenotes the number of bits for the code block number r.

Channel coding is performed on a bit sequence for a given code block(step 220). d^((i)) ₀, d^((i)) ₁, . . . , d^((i)) _(D-1) denote encodedbits, D denotes the number of encoded bits for each output stream, and idenotes an index of a bit stream output from an encoder.

Rate matching is performed on the encoded bits (step 230). Then, codeblock concatenation is performed on the rate-matched bits (step 240). Asa result, a data bit sequence f₀, f₁, . . . , f_(G-1) is generated.Herein, G denotes a total number of encoded bits used to transmit bitsother than bits that is used in control information transmission whenthe control information is multiplexed on a PUSCH.

The control information can be multiplexed together with data. The dataand the control information can use different coding rates by allocatinga different number of coded symbols for transmission thereof.Hereinafter, a CQI is considered as the control information.

Channel coding is performed on CQI values o₀, o₁, . . . , o_(O-1) (whereO is the number of CQI bits) to generate a control information bitsequence q₀, q₁, . . . , q_(Q-1) (step 260). The CQI can use independentchannel coding different from that used for the data. For example, whena block code (32, O) is used as channel coding for the CQI, a basissequence M_(i,n) is as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 i M_(i, 0) M_(i, 1) M_(i, 2) M_(i, 3) M_(i, 4) M_(i, 5) M_(i, 6)M_(i, 7) M_(i, 8) M_(i, 9) M_(i, 10) 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 00 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1 1 1 1 00 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 6 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 7 1 0 0 1 10 0 1 1 0 1 8 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 9 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 10 1 0 1 0 01 1 1 0 1 1 11 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 12 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 13 1 1 0 10 1 0 1 0 1 1 14 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 15 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 16 1 1 10 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 17 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 18 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 19 1 00 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 20 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 21 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 22 10 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 23 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 24 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 251 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 26 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 27 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 028 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 29 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 30 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 31 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

b₀, b₁, . . . , b₃₁ denote an intermediate sequence for CQI channelcoding and can be generated by Equation 2 below.

$\begin{matrix}{{b_{i} = {\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{O - 1}\; {( {o_{n} \cdot M_{i,n}} ){mod}\; 2}}},{{{where}\mspace{14mu} i} = 0},1,2,\ldots \mspace{11mu},31} & ( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2} )\end{matrix}$

The control information bit sequence q₀, q₁, . . . , q_(Q-1) isgenerated by cyclically repeating the intermediate sequence b₀, b₁, . .. , b₃₁ according to Equation 3 below.

q _(i) b _((i mod 31)), where i=0, 1, . . . , Q−1  [Equation 3]

A data bit sequence f₀, f₁, . . . , f_(G-1) is generated as describedabove and is multiplexed together with the control information bitsequence q₀, q₁, . . . , q_(Q-1) into a multiplexed sequence q₀, q₁, . .. , q_(H-1) (step 270). In a process of multiplexing, the controlinformation bit sequence q₀, q₁, . . . , q_(Q-1) can be arranged firstand thereafter the data bit sequence f₀, f₁, . . . , f_(G-1) can bearranged. That is, if H=G+Q, [g₀, g₁, . . . , g_(H-1)] may be configuredsuch as [q₀, q₁, . . . , q_(Q-1), f₀, f₁, . . . , f_(G-1)].

The multiplexed sequence g₀, g₁, . . . , g_(H-1) is mapped to amodulation sequence h₀, h₁, . . . , h_(H′-1) (step 280). Herein, h_(i)denotes a modulation symbol on constellation, and H′=H/Q_(m). Q_(m)denotes the number of bits for each modulation symbol of a modulationscheme. For example, when quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) is usedas the modulation scheme, Q_(m)=2.

Each modulation symbol of the modulation sequence h₀, h₁, . . . ,h_(H′-1) is mapped to a resource element for the PUSCH (step 290). Theresource element is a unit of allocation on a subframe defined with oneSC-FDMA symbol (or OFDMA symbol) and one subcarrier. The modulationsymbols are mapped in a time-first manner. FIG. 8 shows resource mappingon a PUSCH. One slot includes 7 SC-FDMA symbols. In each slot, a 4^(th)SC-FDMA symbol is used to transmit a reference signal. Therefore, up to12 SC-FDMA symbols can be used for the PUSCH in one subframe. Amodulation sequence h₀, h₁, . . . , h_(H′-1) is first mapped in a 1^(st)subcarrier region in an SC-FDMA symbol direction, and is then mapped ina 2^(nd) subcarrier region also in the SC-FDMA symbol direction. A frontportion of the modulation sequence h₀, h₁, . . . , h_(H′-1) correspondsto a CQI. Thus, the CQI is first mapped to resource elements in a frontsubcarrier region.

As described above, to transmit the CQI on the PUSCH, an amount ofresources required to transmit the CQI needs to be determined first. Theamount of resources is determined based on a transmission parameter(e.g., MCS, etc.) used in CQI transmission. The transmission parameterfor the CQI denotes a parameter used for CQI transmission, and includesvarious parameters for determining the MCS and/or the amount ofresources. If the amount of resources is expressed by the number Q′ ofmodulation symbols for the CQI, Q′ can be determined by Equation 4below.

$\begin{matrix}{Q^{\prime} = \lbrack \frac{( {O + L} ) \cdot M_{sc} \cdot N_{symb}}{10^{\frac{- \Delta}{10}} \cdot {\sum\limits_{r = 0}^{C - 1}\; K_{r}}} \rbrack} & ( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 4} )\end{matrix}$

In Equation 4, O denotes the number of CQI bits, L denotes the number ofCRC bits, Δ denotes a parameter, C denotes a total number of codeblocks, K_(r) denotes the number of bits for a code block number r,M_(sc) denotes the number of subcarriers used in PUSCH transmission, andN_(symb) denotes the number of SC-FDMA symbols used in PUSCHtransmission. Transmission parameters for determining the aforementionedQ′ may be at least one of C, K_(r), M_(sc), and N_(symb).

Now, a method of multiplexing retransmission data and a CQI andtransmitting the multiplexed result through a PUSCH in a process ofperforming HARQ will be described.

When the HARQ is performed, the CQI may be transmitted by beingmultiplexed with initial data or retransmission data. This may occurwhen a CQI transmission period coincides with a retransmission period inperiodic CQI reporting or when a response for a CQI transmission requestcoincides with the retransmission period in non-periodic CQI reporting.

When the CQI is multiplexed with the retransmission data, there is anissue as to how transmission parameters (e.g., MCS, etc.) for the CQIare determined. The issue is related to how to determine thetransmission parameters used for the CQI multiplexed with theretransmission data. This is because, when the transmission parametersfor CQI transmission have to be additionally reported by the BS to theUE even at retransmission, the reporting of the transmission parametersmay act as a signaling overhead.

If the CQI is transmitted when the data is retransmitted, a CQItransmission parameter can be determined according to the transmissionparameters used in initial data transmission. For example, an MCS usedin initial data transmission is used for CQI transmission when the datais retransmitted.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step S510, a BS transmits an initial uplinkgrant on a PDCCH. The initial uplink grant includes radio resourceallocation information for initial uplink data in the HARQ method. Instep S520, a UE transmits uplink data on a PUSCH indicated by theinitial uplink grant.

In step S530, upon detecting a decoding error of the uplink data, the BStransmits a NACK signal as a retransmission request. The NACK signal maybe transmitted on a PHICH.

In step S560, if a transmission subframe of retransmission datacoincides with a transmission subframe of a CQI, the UE determines atransmission parameter of the CQI from the initial uplink grant. Thetransmission parameter is a parameter for determining an amount of radioresources required to transmit the CQI, and may be related to an MCS ofthe CQI. For example, when the amount of radio resources of the CQI isdetermined by Equation 4, at least one of transmission parameters C,K_(r), M_(sc), and N_(symb) can be obtained from the initial uplinkgrant.

In step S570, the UE multiplexes the CQI and the retransmission data ofthe uplink data by using the transmission parameter. In step S580, theUE transmits the multiplexed data on the PUSCH.

In HARQ retransmission, when the retransmission data is transmittedtogether with the CQI, the MCS of the CQI is determined according to theinitial uplink grant, so that a signaling overhead can be reducedwithout additional signaling for the transmission parameter of the CQIto be multiplexed.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in step S610, a BS transmits an initial uplinkgrant on a PDCCH. In step S620, a UE transmits uplink data on a PUSCHindicated by the initial uplink grant. In step S630, upon detecting adecoding error of the uplink data, the BS transmits a NACK signal as aretransmission request.

In step S640, the BS transmits a retransmission grant on the PDCCH. Theretransmission grant includes radio resource allocation information forretransmission data regarding the uplink data.

In step s650, if a transmission subframe of retransmission datacoincides with a transmission subframe of a CQI, the UE determines atransmission parameter of the CQI from the initial uplink grant. In stepS670, the UE multiplexes the CQI and the retransmission of the uplinkdata by using the transmission parameter. In this case, theretransmission data is multiplexed using a transmission parameterobtained from the retransmission grant, and the CQI is multiplexed usinga transmission parameter obtained from the initial grant. In step S680,the UE transmits the multiplexed data on the PUSCH.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, in step S700, a BS configures a periodic CQI. A UEperiodically transmits the CQI according to a period determined by theBS. In step S710, the BS transmits an initial uplink grant on a PDCCH.The initial uplink grant includes radio resource allocation informationfor initial uplink data in the HARQ method. In step S720, the UEtransmits uplink data on a PUSCH indicated by the initial uplink grant.

In step S730, the UE transmits the CQI at a CQI transmission period. Inthis case, if an available PUCCH resource exists, the CQI can betransmitted on a PUCCH. In step S740, upon detecting a decoding error ofthe uplink data, the BS transmits a NACK signal as a retransmissionrequest.

In step S760, if a transmission subframe of retransmission datacoincides with a transmission subframe of a CQI, the UE determines atransmission parameter of the CQI from the initial uplink grant.

In step S770, the UE multiplexes the CQI and the retransmission data ofthe uplink data by using the transmission parameter. In step S780, theUE transmits the multiplexed data on the PUSCH.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing an HARQ method according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, in step S810, a BS transmits an initial uplinkgrant on a PDCCH. In step S820, a UE transmits uplink data on a PUSCHindicated by the initial uplink grant. In step S830, upon detecting adecoding error of the uplink data, the BS transmits a NACK signal as aretransmission request.

In step s840, the BS transmits a retransmission grant and a CQI requeston the PDCCH. The CQI request is a signal optionally used by the BS torequest the UE to transmit the CQI. Although the CQI request istransmitted on the PDCCH together with the retransmission grant, the CQIrequest can be transmitted to the UE through an additional message.

In step S860, the UE determines a transmission parameter of the CQI fromthe initial uplink grant according to the CQI request of the BS. In stepS870, the UE multiplexes the CQI and the retransmission of the uplinkdata by using the transmission parameter. In this case, theretransmission data is multiplexed using a transmission parameterobtained from the retransmission grant, and the CQI is multiplexed usinga transmission parameter obtained from the initial grant. In step S880,the UE transmits the multiplexed data on the PUSCH.

Although CQI multiplexing at first retransmission has been proposed inthe aforementioned embodiments, the CQI transmission parameter can beobtained from the initial uplink grant even if the CQI is transmitted bybeing multiplexed at n-th retransmission (where n>1).

By using the transmission parameter used in initial data transmission asthe CQI transmission parameter, additional signaling for the CQItransmission parameter is not necessary.

While performing the HARQ, to multiplex and transmit the retransmissiondata and the CQI on the PUSCH, a CQI transmission parameter can beobtained not only from the initial uplink grant but also from othergrants. For example, the transmission parameter used for theretransmission data multiplexed together with the CQI can be set to theCQI transmission parameter. This is a case where the same MCS used forthe retransmission data is used to transmit the CQI at retransmission.For another example, the transmission parameter used in previoustransmission can be used as the CQI transmission parameter. This is acase where, when second retransmission data and the CQI are multiplexedat second retransmission, the transmission parameter used for the firstretransmission data is set to the CQI transmission parameter.

As described above, a non-periodic CQI is transmitted at the request ofthe BS. In general, the CQI request can be transmitted on the PDCCH. Inthis case, a transmission indicator for the CQI transmission parametercan be transmitted along with the CQI request. The CQI may betransmitted using an allocated resource (or transmission parameter)according to the transmission indicator, or the CQI may be transmittedusing a previously allocated resource (or transmission parameter).

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for wirelesscommunication according to an embodiment of the present invention. Anapparatus 50 for wireless communication may be a part of a UE. Theapparatus 50 for wireless communication includes a processor 51, amemory 52, a radio frequency (RF) unit 53, a display unit 54, and a userinterface unit 55. The RF unit 53 is coupled to the processor 51 andtransmits and/or receives radio signals. The memory 52 is coupled to theprocessor 51 and stores an operating system, applications, and generalfiles. The display unit 54 displays a variety of information of the UEand may use a well-known element such as a liquid crystal display (LCD),an organic light emitting diode (OLED), etc. The user interface unit 55can be configured with a combination of well-known user interfaces suchas a keypad, a touch screen, etc. The processor 51 supports HARQ andAMC. The processor 51 can configure a PUCCH or a PUSCH and can performmultiplexing of data and a CQI. The aforementioned embodiments of theHARQ method can be implemented by the processor 51.

The present invention can be implemented with hardware, software, orcombination thereof. In hardware implementation, the present inventioncan be implemented with one of an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logicdevice (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor, acontroller, a microprocessor, other electronic units, and combinationthereof, which are designed to perform the aforementioned functions. Insoftware implementation, the present invention can be implemented with amodule for performing the aforementioned functions. Software is storablein a memory unit and executed by the processor. Various means widelyknown to those skilled in the art can be used as the memory unit or theprocessor.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodimentsshould be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present invention.

1. A method for supporting retransmission in a wireless communicationsystem, the method performed by a user equipment (UE) and comprising:for initial transmission of uplink data, determining a transmissionparameter, transmitting the uplink data on an uplink channel using thetransmission parameter; for retransmission of the uplink data,multiplexing retransmission data of the uplink data with a channelquality indicator (CQI), wherein radio resource for the CQI isdetermined based on the transmission parameter used for the initialtransmission; and transmitting the multiplexed data on a physical uplinkshared channel (PUSCH).
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radioresource is associated with at least one of a modulation scheme, acoding scheme, a position of allocated resource, and a size of theallocated resource.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmissionparameter is associated with at least one of a channel quality indicator(CQI) and PUSCH transmission.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the CQIis an aperiodic CQI.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving an initial uplink grant on a physical downlink control channel(PDCCH), wherein the initial uplink grant is used for the initialtransmission of uplink data.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a request for retransmission of the uplink data ona physical HARQ indicator channel (PHICH), wherein the retransmission isperformed in response to the request.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe UE supports Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: receiving a retransmission uplink grant ona PDCCH, wherein the retransmission data of the uplink data istransmitted based on radio resource which is determined based on theretransmission uplink grant.